Posts under: homepage

Michigan 78, Rutgers 0

Jabrill Peppers (image via Michigan Daily)

The score. OMG the score. Michigan hasn’t scored that many points since they beat the University of Chicago 85-0 in 1939. It’s the largest margin of victory in the history of the Big Ten, a record that was previously held by Wisconsin’s 63-point victory over Indiana in 2010, an 83-20 contest. I predicted a 45-0 victory in the game preview, but then I amended that shortly into the game:

Rain is the great equalizer. I don’t think #Michigan is going to score 45 tonight

— TouchTheBanner (@TouchTheBanner) October 8, 2016

In fairness to myself . . . it stopped raining. While the rain was coming down early, Wilton Speight was inaccurate, the normally sure-handed De’Veon Smith fumbled, and two balls squirted through the hands of Amara Darboh.

Hit the jump for more.

read more

Preview: Michigan at Rutgers

RUSH OFFENSE vs. RUTGERS RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan is #36 with 210 yards/game and #40 with 4.9 yards/carry. De’Veon Smith (325 yards, 2 TDs) continues to be the bell cow, but Ty Isaac (198 yards, 2 TDs) stepped up with a more decisive effort last week. Karan Higdon (145 yards, 3 TDs) didn’t play last week after a breakout game two weeks ago, and Jim Harbaugh said the reason did not have to do with injury. The team will be affected by the significant knee injury to left tackle Grant Newsome, who will be replaced by redshirt sophomore Juwann Bushell-Beatty. Rutgers is #116 in rushing defense as they give up 227 yards/game, though their 5.26 yards allowed/carry is good enough for . . . #115. While not quite as devastated by injury as Penn State, the Scarlet Knights are missing defensive end Quanzell Lambert and their best linebacker, Greg Jones. The top tackler is safety Kiy Hester (36), followed by sophomore linebackers Deonte Roberts (33) and Trevor Morris (30). Defensive end Julian Pinnix-Odrick and Hester each have 5 tackles for loss.
Advantage: Michigan

Hit the jump for more.

read more

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Alan Branch

Alan Branch (image via CBS Local)

Alan Branch, who plays for the New England Patriots, had 5 tackles and 1 sack in a 16-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Those are pretty solid numbers for a nose tackle. The 6’6″, 350-pounder is best known to Michigan fans as the guy who flattened Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli.

HONORABLE MENTION

• Patriots QB Tom Brady’s lame suspension ended this week, so he rejoined his team and will start next week
• Seattle Seahawks DE Frank Clark had 1 tackle and 1 pass breakup in 27-17 victory over the New York Jets
• Carolina Panthers WR Devin Funchess caught 2 passes for 56 yards in a 48-33 loss to the Atlanta Falcons
• New York Giants CB Leon Hall made 7 tackles in a 24-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings
• Jacksonville Jaguars OT Patrick Omameh made his first start of the year in a 30-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts

read more

Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 5

Jay Hopson

Former WR/S Brian Cole II: 

Cole made 3 tackles, blocked a punt, and returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown in East Mississippi Community College’s 73-7 victory over Mississippi Delta Community College. Below is his five-game highlight film from this season:

Former CB commit Gareon Conley: Conley made 2 tackles in Ohio State’s 58-0 demolition of Rutgers.

Former defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin: Durkin improved to 4-0 as a head coach as Maryland beat Purdue, 50-7.

Former RB commit Damien Harris: Harris had 2 carries for 11 yards in Alabama’s 34-6 win over Kentucky. Harris is the starter but left the previous week’s game early with an ankle injury.

Hit the jump for more updates on former Wolverines.

read more

Emil Ekiyor, Wolverine

Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral OG Emil Ekiyor (image via Today’s U)

Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral offensive guard Emil Ekiyor, Jr., a 2018 prospect, committed to Michigan on Sunday. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and USC, among others.

Ekiyor is 6’3″, 322 lbs. and claims a 5.44 forty.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 81 grade, #4 OG, #131 overall
Rivals: 4-star, #4 OG, #127 overall
Scout: 4-star, #3 OG, #124 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 92 grade, #5 OG, #131 overall

Hit the jump for more on Ekiyor.

read more